Birth Documentaries are only available as an “add on” to “the beginings” baby club memberships. (this is so that a bond can be built with the mother prior to the documentary)
Birth Documentaries are $500. They include full coverage of your labor and birth. Total price of your birth documentary must be paid 2 months before your due date along with your deposit of your baby club membership: total $725 due no later than 2 months before your due date with the remaining $225 due at your maternity session. With your birth documentary and baby club membership, here is what you get:
Full coverage (your entire hospital visit until baby is born and approx 1 hour after) of your labor and birth. the full experience will be documented including the birth (from a modest perspective). Mother’s “bottom” will not be visible in the images. With your documentary you will get all of your images on a disc with a copyright release, and a slideshow dvd with images of the photographers choice. You will also get your images in an online gallery with the option to order prints if you like.
With your baby club membership you get a Maternity Session and a Newborn Session, with each of these sessions you get the following prints, in images of your choice: 2- 11×14 prints, 6- 8×10 prints, 10-5×7 prints, and 16 wallets along with all of your images in an online gallery and the option to purchase extras. The maternity/Newborn sessions and prints alone are a $650 value.
You might be thinking: that’s a lot of money to take pictures at the hospital, why is it so much?
The “time” i spend at the hospital could be anywhere from 2-18 hours, so i am providing a flat rate for my time, in addition to the time spent editing your images. In addition, when you go into labor, that will most likely result in me having to cancel other scheduled sessions to give you the priority. When you go into labor I will drop everything to immediately go to the hospital. for the days preceeding your due date (or sooner if your doctor thinks your date is approaching) I will not leave palestine without informing you, so that you know where i am at all times. In essence, I put “life” on hold until your baby arrives, so that I can be there for the grand entrance. It is a big investment of time for the photographer.
In addition to the cost, there are a few things you should “note” about your birth documentary.
- I prefer to meet with and sit down with all of my clients when I book them, talk about what they want in their images, and find out who their doctor is so that I may contact them to make sure they are ok with the documentation. At this time, there will also a contract to be signed.
- I am only accepting birth documentaries that will be born at Palestine Regional Medical Center
- Palestine Regional Medical Center only allows 3 people in the room at the time of birth, it is understood that I will be one of those people, along with 2 other people of your choice.
- I only accept one birth documentary (by due date) in each 30 day period. So if someone has a due date within 30 days of you, I can not book you, and it is on first pay basis. If you have paid your deposit, you are “on the books”. this is so that I don’t accidentally have babies born to close to each other. Contact me to find out if your day is available. (due to the small number of birth documentaries taken, payment plans are not available)
- I ask that moms keep me informed via text or fb message of their progress and how their doctor thinks that they are progressing, this allows me to carry a lighter schedule as your due dates arrives, and move sessions in advance if your little one looks like they might arrive sooner
- Though I maintain “modesty” in your images (no pictures straight on of the head coming out) it is understood, that by my being in the room, i will probably see parts of your body you aren’t used to people seeing.
- If you are planning on “nursing” the baby, I will stay to take pictures of the first time you “nurse” the baby, for you to have as a keepsake.
- After your session, I will create from your images a “slideshow” i will send the slideshow to you to view and at that time you may have any images removed from it that you like. This slideshow will be posted to facebook and my website to showcase your documentary this is the same slideshow that you will recieve on your dvd.
- If you have any religious or cultural beliefs that would affect the photography during your birth, it is imperative that you let me know.
- In the event that something goes “unexpected” with your birth, and i (or others) are asked to leave the room, I will stay and photograph what I am able after the baby’s birth.
- In the event of a cesarean section, it is understood that I may not be allowed to photograph the birth, as usually only the father is allowed in the operating room. However, the baby, parents and all other events will be photographed. If the doctors and nurses don’t mind me being in the operating room, i will go forward and photograph the birth.
- In the event of a still born baby, as sad as this is, occasionally it happens, I will do an “impromptu” photo shoot of the baby and parents for you to have as a keep sake and treasure for ever, these parents are still parents.
- In the event that for some reason you have to be transferred to another hospital (early labor or complications) it may not be possible for me to photograph your birth, in that instance, your baby club will automatically be upgraded to the “just baby” package which includes 6 month and 1 year sessions with prints. This is so that the money you have already invested isn’t “lost”
- If one of the previous “events” cause a loss in images, there will not be a refund in money (with the exception of a still born baby, where the newborn session fee would be refunded, but not the birth documentary) as I have still put a lot of time into your documentary, and most likely will still have images to edit and deliver to you. However, if something happens with your birth (mom or baby not doing well) these images will not be “shared” with Facebook or anyone else, they will be private moments just for the family.
- Your deposit for your birth documentary is non-refundable
I want to take a minute to let you know that prior to my photography career, i was a surgical nurse, so you can rest assured that I have already seen it all, however, I still believe in modesty, and as such, the following portions of your birth will not be photographed: insertion of the epidural, insertion of catheter, and when the nurses come to “check” you. However, once we are ready to begin pushing, I will remain in the room so I am there to photograph.
You can also rest assured, that blood (and all other human functions that may occur during birth, such as vomiting) do not make me sick. I also have a great bedside manner, and though I am there to photograph your birth, I will do what I can to help make the experience pleasant for you.
If you are interested in booking a birth documentary, please send me an email for more information and we can set up a time to meet and discuss what you want out of your pictures.
Jacklyncapt@yahoo.com
